ThinkPad T500 Value After Upgrades

[HIMAN1998]

I usually don't keep my laptops for long periods of time, I usually sell them or trade them up. So, I was wondering if anyone has an idea of what the value of my T500 will be after I get all my upgrades (I paid $170). Here's the current specs.

Current Specs

Intel Core 2 Duo P8400 2.26GHz
4GB DDR3 RAM
320GB 7200RPM HDD
ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3650
Windows 7 Professional 64-bit
MS Office 2013 Pro Plus
Adobe Photoshop CS6


Upgrades that are gonna be done

Intel Core 2 Duo P8600
8GB DDR3
120GB SSD+320GB 7200RPM HDD in Ultrabay
New palmrest w/ fingerprint reader
9 Cell Battery (has 6 cell now, will include both)


Unsure Upgrades (might not get them because of cost

Faster Core 2 Duo (possibly P8700 or better)
Docking station

So I'm wondering a few things:

1) What is the current value approximately?
2) What will be the approximate value after those uprades?
3) Will the P8700 or better make much difference in value?
4) Will the docking station increase value?

[dr_st]

The short answer is that the upgrades will add less value than you paid for them. Unless you plan to keep the machine enough to enjoy the benefits yourself, don't bother.

[ajkula66]

If you're intent on making any money on that T500, don't upgrade anything. Sell it as it is now.

[HIMAN1998]

Well I'm gonna have this for a while after I do the upgrades. I need a faster computer for school until I build a desktop, and after I do that I'll sell the ThinkPad and probably buy a used MacBook (I take some classes at school that use Macs primarily, and my school doesn't have good Macs), or an ultrabook.

[HIMAN1998]

I'm also getting the P8600 for free. My brother's laptop has one in it and I am gonna swap the processors.

[ajkula66]

I'm also getting the P8600 for free. My brother's laptop has one in it and I am gonna swap the processors.

That's all fine and well, but you'll never notice the difference between the two.

My advice would be to keep all the original parts if possible and swap them back in once you're ready to sell the unit.

[HIMAN1998]

I'm also getting the P8600 for free. My brother's laptop has one in it and I am gonna swap the processors.

That's all fine and well, but you'll never notice the difference between the two.

My advice would be to keep all the original parts if possible and swap them back in once you're ready to sell the unit.

The only part I would be able to use out of it that would help me is the SSD and maybe the RAM, but if I get something with an i5/i7 I'll put 16GB in it just so I don't have to worry about upgrading again later in the same laptop.

[jayton4]

The only part I would be able to use out of it that would help me is the SSD and maybe the RAM, but if I get something with an i5/i7 I'll put 16GB in it just so I don't have to worry about upgrading again later in the same laptop.

i5 and i7's don't work in the T500. Also the T500 will not accept 16GB RAM.

[HIMAN1998]

The only part I would be able to use out of it that would help me is the SSD and maybe the RAM, but if I get something with an i5/i7 I'll put 16GB in it just so I don't have to worry about upgrading again later in the same laptop.

i5 and i7's don't work in the T500. Also the T500 will not accept 16GB RAM.

Yeah I know. I was saying that when I get a new laptop with the i5 or i7, I will take the SSD out of the ThinkPad and use it, especially since new laptops run Windows 8. If I could find something that had Windows 7 drivers that has a 2.5" HDD bay that I could put the SSD into, then I would get it.